Strong Bats Leading Gator Softball Into Final Home Series

The third ranked University of Florida softball team will play its final home series of the regular season this weekend against No. 15 Missouri (36-12, 12-6 SEC) at Katie Seashole Pressly Softball Stadium.

The Gators (41-8, 11-7 SEC) come into the series riding a 10 game winning streak in which they have outscored opponents 82-16. The success includes sweeps of (then) No. 19 Auburn and (then) No. 21 Texas A&M.

After a weekend in which the Orange and Blue swept the Aggies in College Station, Texas, senior third baseman Stephanie Tofft was named NFCA National Player of the Week and SEC Player of the Week. Tofft batted .700 with six runs scored, one double, three home runs and 10 RBI over the weekend. The senior homered in each game, and recorded her second five-RBI game of the year on Saturday.

The Orange and Blue defeated USF, 17-1 on Wednesday to finish the regular season with a 30-1 record in nonconference games. The Orange and Blue also improved to 7-1 this season against opponents from the state of Florida, and dealt the Bulls their worst loss in school history.

Coming into this weekend, the Gators lead the all-time series against the Tigers 4-1, including a victory in the teams’ only matchup in Gainesville on Feb. 7, 2004. UF and Mizzou met twice last season, with the teams splitting two games.

Next weekend, the Gators will play their final regular-season series in Fayetteville as they visit SEC foe Arkansas.

First pitch for Friday’s game is scheduled for 6 p.m., followed by 1 p.m. on Saturday, and Sunday at 11 a.m.